Wednesday, June 15, 2011

1. “The Lord only made a few perfect heads. The rest He put hair on.” Bald is beautiful.

2. “You can’t take it with you.” Success is not measured by how much stuff one accumulates.

3. “Jerie, pick up your feet.” On backpacking trips and in life you miss a lot if you keep your eyes on the ground and drag your feet all the way. (And the people behind you don’t much like hiking in the cloud of dust you kick up.)

4. “I’ll eat any flavor of ice cream, as long as it’s chocolate.” Need I say more?

5. “Enough is too much already.” It’s OK to leave the margins open and allow yourself some space to simply be. Some pursuits are not worth your time and focus.

6. “Drive like everyone else on the road is an idiot.” Take responsibility. Stay alert. Don’t be one of the idiots.

7. “Take your time going and hurry back.” Nothing matters more than spending time with the people you love. Prioritize family-time, don’t just pay it lip service.

8. “Life’s too short.” To worry. Or hold a grudge. To criticize or let the sun go down on an argument. To live in fear or be a slave to the opinions of others. To waste time or squander opportunities. To not say “I love you” or dance in the living room or speak a kind word. For cynicism, doubt and smallness of spirit. To eat red licorice when there’s black to be had. To not laugh every day and pray every day and take a nap when you need one

1. The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree. Dad—I want to be like you when I grow up.I hope I never roll far from the roots that nourished me or the lovely shade of your generosity, your faith, your wisdom, your integrity, your intelligence and good humor. You never lectured me, you simply lived the lessons I needed. Thank you for being a truly exquisite human being. And my Dad. I miss you. Thank heaven for eternity, because I’ll never be done learning from you. Happy Father’s Day. I love you.

What lessons, spoken or unspoken, have you learned from the father-figures in your life?

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1. You see that ditch? You get to dig it. If you do it well, you might get paid next time.
2. Everyone has too much potential to waste on McDonald’s and television…
3. …but Miller Time is a universal principle.
4. Bald is a little prettier with a tan and a good attitude.
5. Pain really is temporary, and chicks really do dig scars.
6. It doesn’t matter who started it, you’re responsible. Get the solution.
7. Wow, Jerie has hot sisters, or daughters, or cousins or whatever.

Your Dad is awesomely handsome and you should seriously consider putting his words of wisdom on a t-shirt. I am envisioning it starting small, with family and friends sporting the look then it catching on like wildfire because it is all so, so true.

Please tell me your Dad lives where there are mountains to go camping in. The one thing I will never get used to is camping in the mid-west. There is no escaping the heat and humidity! Of course, you also said your dad doesn’t have air conditioning, so he has already proven he is immune to heat rash. Very tough man.

Don’t you know? You’re supposed to grow gills, become immune to mosquitoes, and spend your days camping by the lake — whereupon you spend every possible daylight hour bathed is cool, muddy water. Like a water moccasin.

“Love the brick!” (my grandfather was a bricklayer) — work hard, love the work you do and you will do it better and live a longer happier life. You’ll find your own heaven on earth no matter what you do.